University Press Logos

Earlier this fall, Yale University Pressdiscontinued the iconic Paul Rand-designed logo it’s been using since 1985, and replaced it with a simpler one in the Yale typeface. (For now, the Web site still features Rand’s logo.) The change is said to connect the press more closely to its Yale parent. These two Yale UP colophons demonstrate the opposing design objectives common among many university press logos: the old logo puts an emphasis on design and proclaims the press’s independence from its university, while the new logo fixes the press within a larger Yale brand. The divergent styles also represent the delicate balance that academic presses must strike between academic authority and playful experimentation. Let’s consider some other case studies.

University of Washington Press: Since the mid-sixties, University of Washington Press has used a simple, graphic “W” designed by Audrey Meyer. But the university is exploring whether to endorse a uniform purple “W” logo for their departments and subsidiaries. The press’s publicist says the press is discussing the switch internally as well.